Kriegsritter Johannes Braun – Imperial Knight
Copyright© 2026 by Vonalt
Chapter 18: Goslar-The Kaiserpfalz and the Kaiserpfalz Werla - Home
Johannes felt a sense of relief and excitement at the same time. After Münden, the caravan had to travel through several mountain ranges, staying in the valleys whenever possible. It seemed that as soon as they made it through one range, another awaited them, ready to present its own challenges. This continued day after day, and everyone was becoming discouraged. This was especially true after Göttingen, where the mountains became more numerous and the terrain more challenging. Each night, the camps fell silent after the evening meal. Everyone, including the livestock, had one thing in mind: rest. The next day would be a repeat of the previous one.
It took nearly a week to travel from Münden to Goslar, and during those first few days, Johannes wasn’t sure they would make it. As they left Münden and moved away from the river valley, the road almost immediately began climbing steep slopes that challenged the already tired horses. The route was heavily wooded, raising fears of an ambush or bandits attempting to prey on the caravan. Johannes and his retainers kept watch along the road for any signs of trouble.
The stretch of road between the Weser and Leine valleys was extremely difficult. Some of the slopes were so steep that they were forced to double-team the horses to haul the carts up them.
It had recently rained, and the dirt roads had quickly become a muddy mess, making an already difficult journey even more challenging. Mud, steep climbs, and narrow tracks were taking their toll on the animals and their handlers. Everyone was suffering from exhaustion.
After crossing the Dransfeld Plateau and descending toward the Leine Valley, the travel conditions improved. Johannes informed everyone that he would call for a day of rest when they reached Göttingen. This would give them a chance to make any necessary repairs, replace the couple of lame horses, obtain food, and gather local news that might affect their travels.
The caravan camped outside the city, while Adelheid and Gabriella stayed in town at the lodgings Father Denis had secured. Marcus assigned his most trusted Frangipani retainers to guard the women for the night.
Thankfully, the night passed peacefully for the entire caravan. After a much-needed rest, everyone was eager to continue the journey the following morning.
The caravan continued north along the Leine Valley. Here, it seemed that the valley itself provided a natural corridor for their journey. This proved to be one of the easiest stretches of their trip to Goslar. The travelers welcomed the easier road, knowing that the Harz Mountains lay ahead.
Johannes dreaded this part of their journey. From conversations with the locals, he had learned that the road ahead would involve even steeper climbs, enough to discourage some travelers from continuing. As he looked toward the mountains, Johannes realized that they might cross one range only to discover that the mountains beyond were larger than those they had already conquered.
Nor would they always be crossing true mountain ranges. The foothills and heavily wooded ridges could prove just as difficult. The roads wound through dense forests, climbing and descending repeatedly and slowing progress for both people and animals.
Eventually, the strain became too much. The entire caravan halted and made camp beneath the sheltering canopy of the deep forests surrounding them. Everyone was too exhausted to continue, and for the moment, even the promise of reaching Goslar could not overcome their need for rest.
The journey ahead proved to be the most difficult of all. They were entering the Harz Mountains, and the range seemed determined to break the caravan. The carts struggled up the steep inclines, and in places, the wheels sank deep into the muddy roads. When this happened, additional horses and mules had to be brought forward to pull the carts free.
Often, the retainers, along with Johannes and Marcus, would position themselves behind a cart and push while the animals strained against their harnesses. Progress was painfully slow. The horses and mules grew increasingly weary, needing more frequent rests after struggling through the miserable conditions.
The mountains were not only wet but bitterly cold. The season was rapidly turning toward winter, and no one wanted to find themselves stranded in the mountains once the snows arrived. Each day became a race against the approaching winter.
During this part of the journey, almost everyone walked. Every bit of additional weight on a cart could determine whether it would make it up a steep incline. At times, Johannes would call for a halt, and the carts would be unloaded. The goods would then be carried or hauled up the slope while the empty carts were driven to the top. Once there, the carts would be reloaded, and the caravan would continue on its way.
The Harz Mountains proved to be the most difficult part of the journey, testing both the people and the animals to their limits. Everyone looked forward to the day when they could finally leave the mountains behind.
At last, they began their descent toward Goslar. When Johannes spotted the walled city in the distance, he halted the caravan and asked Father Denis to celebrate a brief Mass in thanksgiving for their safe arrival after such a difficult journey.
After days of mountains, mud, and exhaustion, with scarcely another traveler in sight, they could finally see Goslar ahead. Those at the front of the caravan were the first to spot the city’s towers and walls, and they quickly passed the news back to those following behind. Soon, the entire caravan was within sight of the city they had spent nearly two months traveling to reach. The sight lifted everyone’s spirits. Even the horses seemed to sense the excitement and pulled their loads with renewed energy.
Johannes gathered Marcus, their wives, and Father Denis for a brief meeting. They decided that the caravan would pause for a short rest, enjoy a decent meal, and take the opportunity to wash themselves and clean their clothing. They expected to reach the city by midafternoon.
Johannes felt that arriving well-fed and presentable would serve the travelers well. They would make a far more favorable impression on the residents than a caravan of tired, hungry, and filthy travelers entering the city under the Emperor’s banner.
As Johannes rode at the head of the caravan, wearing a clean surcoat, he realized that the seemingly endless mountains were finally behind them. As they passed through the city gate, residents gathered along the streets to watch the procession. They wondered who this knight was, accompanied by his retainers and so many carts.
Some speculated that the caravan was an advance party of Duke Henry III of Saxony and Bavaria, better known as Henry the Lion. Others, more knowledgeable about heraldry, disagreed. The golden field bearing the black eagle on the surcoats identified the men as serving the Emperor.
Among those who had come out to watch was a merchant who had recently spent time at court in Aachen. As the procession passed, he recognized the imperial insignia, including the red detail at the shoulder of Johannes’s surcoat.
He quickly relayed the news to those around him.
“It’s Lord Johannes Braun, Imperial Knight, trusted advisor to the Emperor and Protector of the Holy See under Pope Adrian IV,” he announced.
The merchant then added, “I wonder what the Imperial Knight is doing in Goslar. At court, everyone said he was in the County of Burgundy, serving as a bailli to Queen Beatrice. Yet now, here he is.”
Johannes wasn’t sure where they should stop, as the Emperor had given him no explicit instructions about where they would be staying. The procession continued toward the largest building in the Imperial Palace and came to a halt before it.
Johannes and Marcus dismounted, stretching their legs and briefly surveying their surroundings.
“Marcus, tell the men to remain alert. Something about this place does not sit well with me,” Johannes said, looking around once more.
“You mean because all the guards posted here wear Henry the Lion’s colors? I noticed that, too,” Marcus replied.
“While I rummage through my pack, tell the others to stay alert and protect the women in the coach,” Johannes said, keeping his eyes on Henry the Lion’s men, who watched him and Marcus with evident nervousness.
When Marcus returned, several palace servants came out to take the bridles of Johannes’s and Marcus’s horses. Johannes steeled himself and prepared to enter the palace, with Marcus striding alongside him. Both men kept a wary eye on the retainers standing guard.
At the main entrance, the guards saluted Johannes and Marcus and allowed them to enter without challenge. The two men walked into the building, uncertain where to go or whom to approach. Eventually, Johannes spotted a court official, stopped him, and asked where the Emperor’s clerks could be found. The official responded politely and pointed down the hall.
Along the corridor, retainers stood guard at regular intervals. Johannes took note of their positions and considered how he and Marcus might fight their way through them and back to the caravan if necessary. It would be a difficult fight, he thought, but he believed they could overcome the retainers. None of the guards appeared to be paying Johannes and Marcus any particular attention.
Johannes eventually found the clerks and scribes seated at long tables, recording official government documents in enormous bound volumes. Most appeared to be monks, probably from a nearby monastery. Johannes had little desire to renew his conflict with overzealous archbishops so soon, and he paid no attention to those bent over their writing.
In the far corner of the room stood a table set apart from the others. An older man sat there, studying a missive and occasionally making corrections to its contents.
That is the man I should speak to, Johannes reasoned.
He crossed the room and approached the older man’s desk.
“I am Imperial Knight Johannes Braun, formerly of Dole in Burgundy, and I have been instructed to come to Goslar. Have any missives addressed to me arrived recently?” Johannes asked.
At first, the senior clerk seemed confused.
“Imperial Knight? Johannes Braun?” he repeated.
After a moment’s thought, his expression changed. “Ah, yes! A missive addressed to you arrived several weeks ago. No one knew what to do with it, so it was placed on the shelf behind me. Allow me to retrieve it for you, Lord Johannes.”
The senior clerk turned and retrieved the missive from the shelf before handing it to Johannes.
Johannes examined the document and noted that the imperial seal remained intact. That was a good sign; it suggested that the letter had neither been opened nor tampered with. He broke the seal and carefully opened the wax-sealed linen envelope, removing the letter within.
He read it once, then read it again to ensure he fully understood the Emperor’s instructions.
To Lord Johannes Braun, Imperial Knight
Johannes,
Word has reached me through my spies that Henry, Duke of Saxony, has taken possession of the town of Goslar and the palace there. His intentions remain uncertain, and I would not have you or your men drawn into a quarrel with him over the city, its lands, or its riches.
The duke claims Goslar as his own, asserting that the city lies wholly within the Duchy of Saxony. Whether his claim is just or not, I will not permit his ambition to draw us into open conflict before the time is right.
Therefore, I command you to depart for Kaiserpfalz Werla, the Imperial Palace upon the Oker River, northeast of Goslar. It lies but a day’s journey from the city.
There, you shall establish yourself in my name and assume command of the palace and the lands belonging to it. Strengthen its defenses and make such improvements as you deem necessary to secure the place. See that the walls, gates, towers, and stores are put in good order, and ensure that the garrison is prepared should trouble arise.
You are to hold Werla in my name and ensure that no man takes possession of the palace without my leave.
Once you are established, send me a missive reporting on the condition of the palace, the surrounding lands, the strength of its defenses, and the men under your command.
I place this charge in your hands, Johannes.
Emperor Frederick Barbarossa
After reading the Emperor’s missive for the second time, Johannes turned it toward Marcus so that he could read it as well.
Marcus took his time reading the Emperor’s correspondence before commenting.
“Either the Emperor has played you for a fool, or he has positioned you as a chess piece against Henry the Lion,” he said thoughtfully. “Knowing the Emperor, I would say the latter is the correct answer.”
“While we are in Goslar, I will write to the Emperor, acknowledging his command and suggesting that he send additional troops from the Italian states loyal to the Empire to garrison the Imperial Palace at Werla. Marcus, we will also need to hire mercenaries to supplement our meager number of retainers. Hopefully, the taverns in Goslar will yield a few unattached mercenaries willing to serve the Imperial Crown. Barbarossa’s coin is as good as anyone else’s,” Johannes said, addressing Marcus more than anyone else.
While Johannes wrote his reply to the Emperor in the clerk’s office, Marcus set about securing accommodations for their caravan. He found a suitable inn for their wives and themselves, along with lodging for the servants and retainers. The stable hands found room for the animals and ensured that they were groomed and fed during their stay in Goslar.
Perhaps the most interesting development was the curiosity Henry the Lion’s men showed toward Johannes and his party. They were not openly hostile, merely curious about why the Imperial Knight had come to Goslar.
Johannes had instructed his men to explain that they were traveling farther north and had stopped in Goslar to rest and replenish their supplies. This explanation seemed to satisfy Henry’s retainers, and for the most part, they left Johannes and his men alone.
Marcus and several of his trusted men made inquiries in Goslar’s taverns, seeking mercenaries willing to serve the Emperor. Several men expressed interest.
When Johannes and his caravan departed Goslar, small groups of men set out shortly afterward, following the same route. Whether they intended to join Johannes’s service or merely travel in the same direction remained to be seen.
The journey from Goslar to Kaiserpfalz Werla took a full day. A local serf had agreed to guide them, explaining during their conversations that the old palace had not been entirely abandoned. A small settlement had grown up around the former imperial residence, and knights traveling north with their retainers sometimes spent the night within its walls. However, no permanent garrison was stationed there.
When the serf announced that they were approaching their destination, he explained that the old palace stood on a rise overlooking the Oker River. Johannes soon spotted it in the distance.
Although it lacked the grandeur of Goslar, the former palace appeared defensible and was in better condition than he had expected. With some repairs and improvements, it could be transformed into a fortified stronghold capable of housing a respectable number of defenders. The small farming community that had developed around the old fortifications also appeared capable of supplying many of the basic needs of Johannes’s men and servants.
As they drew closer to the fortified site, Johannes could see why it had been chosen. The old Imperial Palace stood on a high plateau beside the Oker River. From there, a person could see for miles in every direction across the surrounding plain. It would be nearly impossible for an enemy to approach the palace undetected.
The walls were constructed of stacked stone, and a single tower provided an unobstructed view of the surrounding countryside. It was a formidable position, and any attacker would pay a steep price in lives attempting to take it once the palace gates had been secured.
Inside the walls stood several moderately sized buildings. One was the former royal palace, while another contained living quarters for the retainers and servants. There also appeared to be remnants of the old stables. Johannes realized that he and the men under his command would have plenty of work ahead of them, repairing damaged masonry and replacing stones where necessary.
When they reached the walls, Marcus stopped to examine the stonework carefully, his gaze eventually settling on the hand-dug moat surrounding the palace grounds.
Smiling, Marcus said, “Johannes, I can see Roman masonry in these walls. My ancestors were here before us, so by right, I should be the master here and you my second-in-command. I claim this palace as my inheritance. Are you going to swear fealty to me now, brother?”
Several of Johannes’s retainers overheard Marcus’s boast and momentarily wondered how Johannes would react. Johannes, however, burst out laughing.
“I shall send word, then, and request that Count de Fligny and your mother-in-law, Cecilia, join us to share in your good fortune, brother. After all, it is a lord’s duty to provide comfort and sustenance to the weak, the infirm, and the aged. You should be proud to welcome her back into your household, where she can guide you in the performance of your duties.”
Both men shared a laugh.
“Tomorrow, we will survey the fortifications and decide what improvements should be made to the walls and buildings,” Johannes continued. “Tonight, we will eat and rest. Tomorrow, we shall begin in earnest the work of turning this palace into a formidable defensive stronghold.”
Gabriella and Adelheid supervised the unloading of the carts and decided where the various supplies should be temporarily stored. Johannes, Marcus, and the men-at-arms all pitched in, helping the exhausted servants carry packs and bundles to the designated piles. With everyone lending a hand, the work was completed quickly, and those responsible for preparing the food had a cold supper ready before sunset.
While everyone ate, curious villagers entered the palace’s inner bailey and began asking questions of the newcomers. They wanted to know who their new lord was and what would be expected of them in providing food and firewood for the palace. They also wondered what protection their new lord would offer in return, particularly during the depths of winter, when the great hall could be cold and drafty.
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